Recent Successes in Biofuels Funding Despite Setbacks

The boom in biofuels may seem to have fallen after the recent expiration and reduction in government subsidies. However, there have also been recent developments both in the private and public sectors which could signal a second chance for biofuels. Here are a few companies still receiving significant investments despite the less than favorable economic climate for biofuels.

Scaling Up Ethanol Production for Emerging Biofuel Feedstocks

With the investment in research and development of second and third-generation biofuel feedstocks, process engineering firms are seeing a rise in scale-up projects for ethanol production. However, some companies are now finding it difficult to move beyond R&D to pilot or commercial scale production for a variety of reasons. The most prohibiting factor many companies face when making the shift from pilot facility to commercial-scale production is the financing of these larger-scale ethanol processes.

The Technology & Process behind Cellulosic Ethanol Production: Part 2

Qteros, a start-up from UMass Amherst is on the forefront of the cellulosic ethanol industry. Their mission is to develop efficient and cost effective ways to make ethanol from waste products, and they have already broken ground on their demonstration scale facility. Qteros success comes, not only from their Q microbe (see Qteros website for detailed explanation as to how this process works), but also from their growth plan that allowed them to scale up production at progressively higher levels, while accurately predicting their costs.

Will Cellulosic Ethanol Replace Gasoline? Part I: The Facts

Recent reports from Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors have estimated that by 2030, alternative energy and biofuels in the U.S will replace one-third of annual gasoline consumption. One of the clean technology forerunners contributing to this reduction is cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is already being produced on a commercial scale by several companies across the U.S. and is already commercially viable: